News Archive

 
                                                                         
July 2008 - Free / Reduced
Lunch and Medical Benefits Applications
Now Available
  

Application for Free or Reduced Cost Lunch / Free or Low-Cost Health Insurance
Food Stamp Program Information / Information Release
Letter to Parents & Guardians

Dear Parent / Guardian:

The Madison Public Schools participates in the National School Lunch Program by offering a choice of healthy meals each school day. Children may buy lunch for $2.50 at the Elementary schools, $2.75 at the Upper and Lower Middle Schools and at the High School.  Children who qualify under U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines may get lunch free or at a reduced price of $.40. All meals served must meet nutrition standards established by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.  If a child has a disability, as determined by a doctor, and the disability prevents the child from eating the regular school meal, the school will make substitutions prescribed by the doctor.  If a substitution is needed, there will be no extra charge for the meal.  Please call the school for further information.

INCOME CHART FOR REDUCED MEALS

Effective July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009

How do I get free or reduced priced school meals for my child? 

You can get benefits in one of two ways.  You must either complete the free and reduced price school meal application and return it to the school or bring in a letter from the Department of Social Services.  If your total household income is the same or below the amount on the Reduced Price Income Chart above, your child may get either free meals or reduced price meals.

Your child can get free school meals if you get food stamps or Temporary Family Assistance (TFA).  The Department of Social Services may provide you with a letter that will automatically qualify your child for free meals.  This letter must be brought to school, and can be substituted for completion of this application.

• Households getting food stamps or TFA:  You only have to include your child’s name and case number.  An adult household member must sign the application
• Households that receive medical benefits only:  You have to include the names of all household members, the amount of income each person received last month and where the income came from.  An adult household member must sign the application and include his or her social security number.
• Other households: If you DO NOT have a case number, you have to include the names of all household members, the amount of income each person received last month and where the income came from.  An adult household member must sign the application and include his or her social security number.
• Household with children enrolled in the Head Start/Evan Start Program should contact the school for assistance in receiving benefits.
• Households with a foster child: You must include the child’s name, the amount of personal use income the child received last month and an adult must sign the application.  Note: Subsidized adoptions and subsidized guardianships require the calculation of all household income plus the adoption/guardianship subsidy.

Will the application be verified?

Your eligibility may be checked at anytime during the school year.  School officials may ask you to send papers that show that your child should get free or reduced price school meals.

Can I appeal the school’s decision? 

You can talk to school officials if you do not agree with the school’s decision on your application or the results of verification.  You also may ask for a fair hearing by calling or writing, David J. Klein, Superintendent, 1-203-245-6300, P.O. Drawer 71, 10 Campus Drive, Madison, CT.   06443.

Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals?

If you have not been informed that they will get free meals, please call the school or the school homeless liaison at 245-6323, to see if your child (ren) qualifies.

If I get WIC can my child (ren) get fee meals?

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals.  Please fill out an application.

May I apply is someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?

Yes, you or your child (ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.

We are in the military; do we include our housing allowance as income?

If you housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income.

Will information on my application be kept confidential? 

We will use the information on your application to decide if your child should get free or reduced price meals.  We may inform officials connected with Title 1 and the National Assessment of Educational Progress whether your child is eligible for free or reduced price school meals.  They will use this information for funding and/or evaluation purposes.  Information may also be disclosed if you want the application to be used to get other benefits.

Can I apply for free and reduced price meals later? 

You may apply for free and reduced price meals anytime during the school year.  If you are not eligible now but have a change, like a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, become unemployed or get food stamps or TFA, then you can choose to complete an application.

If my child is eligible for free meals, will my child and family also be eligible for Food Stamps?

Your child and family may be eligible for Food Stamps if your child is determined to be eligible fore free meals.  For information regarding the Food Stamp Program and to contact the Department of Social Services office in your town, contact United Way’s free referral number 2-1-1 INFOLINE (free call, statewide).

We will let you know is you are approved or denied.

NOTE: An application that is not complete cannot be approved.

Sincerely,

Arthur Sickle
Director of Administrative Services
Madison Public Schools

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY).  The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.